Week 1 & 2- Introduction/ Visual Language and Cultural Contexts
Having studied Film and Animation for 6 years, many different aspects of the medium have piqued my interest to learn more about. Over the years I’ve studied several film directors as auteurs, as well as the films themselves, the context and theory behind them.
Animation is a wonderful art form. From the moment Phenakistoscopes & Zoetropes were created, moving image has been an interesting form of storytelling. Beginning with the silent film era from the early 1900s, to the digital age of modern film and animation using computer technology.
We talked about the Elements of Art: Colour, Space, Texture, Line and Shape and learned about the impact each of these has on an art piece.
As well as learning about the elements of Art, we learned about the history of Animation and the cultural changes that helped develop animation into what we know it as. It was inspired by the new century’s sea of social change, which was shaping most medias at the time from books, theatre, music and art. Cinema was seen as something sinful and people who used it or invented new ideas surrounding it was sneered at.
Animated films began being distributed in the early 1900s, the advent-guard movements influencing the look and surrealism of the visuals.
Week 3 – The Avant Garde. Experimental, abstract constructs and analysis
Learning about the experimental and abstract animations was the most interesting. The lesson evolved my knowledge about avant-garde styles and helped me understand that animations are okay not to always look natural but to look surreal and subjective.
Blog Task
Imagine Dragons – Enemy music video
Categorisation: Grunge, Comments of the aggression and suppression of the Zaunites from the enforcers of Piltover. Colours are dark, apart from when Jinx comes out with neon colours.
• Form and Function; The objective is to introduce the world of Zaun and Piltover to people who don’t play League of Legends. This is the show Arcane’s into song and the music sets the scene perfectly of who the children of Zaun are, as well as the oppressors.
• Process: Most used 3D animation but is layered with 2D animations for VFX.
• Formal Elements; Follows the beat of the music, in tone and in speed. There are moments when the shots are slowed down to create effect and emphasise of the fact these characters are still just children who want to play, growing up in a place not made for kids.
Week 4 – The Auteur and Animation.
Auteurs are the artists of media. They are so soul soul-creative forces for a film. They create their own visual style, theme or message which is their mind and their creative process. It reflects over all the films they have creative control over and so a person knows what type of movie they will watch.
I know it’s cliche to pick Alfred Hitchcock as my favourite Auteur but he really was famous for a reason. His films were very popular and there was a reason he was the same. He was a character. In the times of the Hollywood Studio and the Haze Act, he was really pushing the boundary as to what audiences would be allowed to see, to still challenge them. For example, his theme of voyeurism is very iconic now, however, his films were almost not made sometimes as they were seen as too controversial.
However, auteurs don’t have to just be directors. Anyone who has a large amount of creative control over a movie with a theme, style or message can become an auteur.
Week 5 – Social and Political comment in animation.
Social Media, News and Live Events, Film and Animation & television, Games, Podcasts and Advertisements via prints in the physical form. Areas that can be affected by topics of politics include Political persuasion, commercial persuasion, race, gender, equality, disability, ethics and ecology.
How politics shape and influence different media being made are Documentary, Cinema, Television, Games and Advertising. Each of these pieces of media can be biased towards specific ways of thinking and it’s always to seek other sources as well as the ones that are most well-known to make sure that facts aren’t feelings.
One show that loves to dive into politics and social commentary is South Park. It is never afraid to ruffle feathers and get under people’s skin. Always making comments on how the world is a dangerous and messed up place, and only having one mindset is in and of itself dangerous.
Week 6 – The Language Of Animation: Mise-en-Scène
Mise-en-scene is the arrangement of everything that appears in the frame of the camera. From the Actors, and setting decor, to the props and costumes, everything is Mise-en-scene. Each aspect of a scene is carefully and meticulously placed. nearly nothing is ever left to chance.
A scene I studied many years ago was the opening scene from La La Land. The traffic jam could be seen as symbolic. The singers and dancers all get out of their cars, letting all their feelings out. Similar to their feelings and frustrations, they are full of energy and stuck in life, similarly to being stuck in traffic. Everyone wants to go in the same direction. This idea is also enhanced by the vibrancy of all the actors’ costumes. The clothes they wear getting out of the muted car colours show that they hold themselves back to try and get to their destination, whatever that may be. But being in the ‘City of Stars’ it’s hard to think of what else.
In addition to classwork, I also began choosing the idea that I wanted to write about in my critical report. The theme I wanted to go for was cutscenes within video games. The reason behind this is because its what got me into many of the games I play today, it is what I want to do when I finish my education. I feel they enhance storytelling and visual narrative within gaming but my partner feels different. Therefore I think this would be a good theme to talk about and discuss not only different view points but the facts over the years.
Week 7 – Narrative structure and Character Role
A successful narrative must be able to complete a full circle of events that make sense, conclude in a satisfactory way and keep audiences interested and attentive. Characters should follow a cyclical structure which requires actors to perform convincingly in their roles. The combination of a good story usually will have both good storytelling and good character design to be successful.
Mediums that follow the narrative literary structure are novels, poetry, short stories, novellas, plays, legends, folktales, myths and fairytales. Each piece must have a beginning, middle and end. With the three-act structure being the core focus. The beginning having the context and conflict, the middle having the journey and climax, and the end having the resolve and resolution from the climax.
Week 9 – Creating the Report and Essay Video
Although I know the time limit was around five minutes, I just couldn’t cut it below 6. I had never heavily edited a video of this length and took me 2 full days of solid editing to get it looking just how I wanted. Years ago, I would binge-watch video essays reviewing or talking about different animated films and so I had a guide on how the video should look aesthetically.
After having to chop out some small aspects of the essay, nothing major to change any of the points I was making, The video was complete.
Week 10 – Critical Report & Visual Essay
References:
References in blog:
Imagine Dragons (2021). Imagine Dragons x J.I.D – Enemy (from the series Arcane League of Legends). [online] www.youtube.com. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9G1VOjN_84.
Comedy Central UK (2016). New President – South Park | Comedy Central UK. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul7_PRg0hYQ.
Sun (2024). Another Day of Sun – La La Land Opening Scene. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://youtu.be/xVVqlm8Fq3Y?si=oM0_LPW8x1xF-y_6.